Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup


There is nothing I love more than a big pot of homemade soup. I have seen several Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipes floating around lately so I decided to give it a try. I went my girl Ina's recipe, because let's be real she never disappoints in the cooking department, her wardrobe choices however are a different story. I swear she must own 50 navy and black button up shirts, that is all she ever wears! But back to the important things, the recipe. This soup was so good and super easy to whip together after a long day. I picked up a Rotisserie Chicken to cut out the cooking the chicken step (and I don't like dealing with raw chicken, it really grosses me out). The fresh cilantro, avocado and chips were the perfect garnish for the soup. The flavors mix together perfectly! We ate this three nights in a row! Enjoy!

MEXICAN CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
Ingredients
4 split (2 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chopped onions (2 onions)
1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
2 cups chopped carrots (4 carrots)
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in puree, crushed
2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander seed
**3 Ears Fresh Corn shucked (not in original recipe but I added in)**
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional
6 (6-inch) fresh white corn tortillas
For serving: sliced avocado, sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until done. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat. Cover and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, 1 tablespoon salt (depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock), 1 teaspoon pepper, and the cilantro, if using. Cut the tortillas in 1/2, then cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch strips and add to the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season to taste. Serve the soup hot topped with sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and broken tortilla chips.

Print Recipe HERE

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Obsessions

Happy Tuesday Loves. I hope many of you got to enjoy a day off yesterday!
1)RACHEL PALLY SAL TOP
How cute is this top? I am always a fan of navy and white stripes, so classic and chic. My favorite part is the back. Love the bow and the sexy peek of the back.



2)TRADER JOES RAISIN ROSEMARY CRISPS
Can you tell I am obsessed with Trader Joes? These crackers are my newest find and I am hooked. They are the perfect combo of sweet and savory and taste great with any cheese you can imagine. Go buy some you will be obsessed too!



3) GRASS CLOTH WALL COVERING
This is my newest design obsession. Pretty sure this is going to happen in Sterling's big boy room or perhaps when we have another baby.




4) THE VOICE
This show is my newest TV obsession. It is so much better than American Idol. Matt and I just started watching last week and we are hooked. Plus looking at Adam Levine ain't so bad.



5)JENNIFER ZEUNER CROSS NECKLACE AND BRACELET
Jennifer Zeuner is one of my favorite jewelry designers. I love how feminine and delicate her pieces are. I own one of her monogrammed necklaces and wear it almost everyday. I am in love with this cross necklace and bracelet. They are so simple yet stunning at the same time. I could see myself wearing these everyday.




Monday, February 20, 2012

Sterling's 2nd Birthday Party

We celebrated Sterling's Birthday this Saturday and had the best time. I am not one for planning themed parties so kept it simple and just decorated for a kids birthday. We had a painting station for the kids and a booze station for the parents- everyone was happy:) Here are a few pictures my sister snapped from the big day! It was so fun but I am glad it's over, every year I forget how much time and effort it takes to put a party together! Most important thing though, the Birthday Boy really enjoyed himself!
The Birthday Boy





The Goody Bags for our Guests




The Food Spread











The Painting Station





My little man's works of art.




Artwork by the Other Kids. Pretty Impressive




A Few Decorations







Family Pics with the Birthday Boy







And for those who are interested, My Outfit. This was before I decided what shoes I was wearing. I went with the right ones because they were more comfortable, always best when chasing kids around.



JCrew Blouse, Stella and Dot Clover Necklace, 7 for all Mankind "The Skinny" Jeans, Micheal Kors Shoes.

Friday, February 17, 2012

The Bob: An Update

So, I went for it and decided to chop my hair off. Ladies this is major. I have not had short hair since 8th grade. But I was ready. I went in prepared and did not shed a tear and truth be told I like my short hair. Actually I love it! It was so processed and dried out before and now it looks and feels so fresh and healthy. Afterwards my hair dresser even said the texture looked like a 10 year old's hair . A major compliment to a bleachaholic! This is what I brought in for my inspiration pictures (You all know how much I love me some Gwennie). I thought her bob was perfection and if Gwyneth can rock short hair then so can I!



Here is the pic I snapped when leaving the hair salon.



And here it is the next day. Styled by Moi and still looking good!



Love it. I am sure I will be ready to have long hair again come the Fall but for Spring and Summer I am so happy with my new "do"!

On another note, thanks for all the sweet Birthday wishes for Sterling yesterday! We had a wonderful day! Here he is making a wish for his Birthday:)




Have a great weekend! I am off to finish up everything for Sterling's party tomorrow! Pictures to come next week! xoxo

Thursday, February 16, 2012

I Heart.


Today I am also over at Anna's gorgeous blog A Newfound Treasure sharing a few fashion and home decor items I love. Anna's blog is a must read if you have not visited it before. Anna is a momma to two sweet baby boys and has an amazing eye for style and design. Her blog is always filled with beautiful eye candy! One of my favorite daily reads! You can check out my post HERE

Happy Birthday to My Sweet Baby Boy



I don't even know where to begin this post. I just went went back and read my post on Sterling's Birthday last year (Here) and it brought a tear to my eye. I can not believe my baby boy is turning two today. Two years ago at 9:46 am on this day I welcomed the most precious bundle of joy into my life.

Every day I am amazed that Matt and I created this perfect little boy. Being a mother to Sterling is such a blessing. I knew my life would change when I had a child but I never understood the extent of how much you can love something until Sterling came into my life. Being a mother is quite possibly the hardest yet most rewarding job ever. I have never laughed and cried so hard in the last two years. My days are filled with far more worry than before but I would not change it for a minute. I thank God everyday for gifting me with this bright, smart, and handsome baby boy. His laughter and smiles fill my heart with so much joy sometimes I feel like it might burst. My day is not complete until I walk in and check on my little man sleeping. There is something so special about seeing your child sleeping so peaceful. I walk in and look at him and feel like the luckiest mom alive.




This year has brought many changes since last year. My little man is a talking machine. He likes to repeat everything we say even bad words! And when he says "Frog" It does indeed sound like a bad word. He loves his Popsicles and Lollipops, they are his favorite "treats" as he calls them. He is quite the artist, loves to paint and color. He greets me every morning with a huge smile and "hi" when I come to get him out of bed. He loves to wear socks on his hands kind of weird but also kind of cute at the same time. His favorite foods are yogurt and oatmeal. I think he would eat breakfast for every meal if he could. He is beyond obsessed with the show "Little Bear" on Nick Jr. We watch an episode every morning when he gets up, it is our cuddle time. He loves to shop and wear my jewelry around, which secretly makes me smile because I know he is my child! He is the most loving little boy ever, always ready to give a hug, especially when you tell him "no."



Happy Birthday to my sweet son. Sterling, you are the light of my life and I am so proud to be your mom. You have infinitely made me a stronger and better person. I look forward to each and every day we spend together. You bring more love and happiness to my life than you will ever know! I love you to the moon and back again a million times over.